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Being a Peer Mentor
in the Peer Instruction Program has given Shaun Mursell a reason
to stay put.
Not that he needed one.
“I love Dalton State,” says Mursell, a native of England who
enrolled here in the fall of 2006 and plans to complete a
bachelor’s degree in a few years.
“When I came I insisted that I was only going to stay here for
one semester, and then I’d transfer. But I love this college.
And one of the reasons I’ve stayed is because I couldn’t leave
my job as a Peer Mentor. It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Mursell is one of three Peer Mentors employed as student workers
through the College’s Peer Instruction Program. Under the
direction of Academic Resources Center’s Jody Trost, the Peer
Instruction Program provides academic support, free of charge,
for students enrolled in all types of classes.
In addition to Mursell and two other Peer Mentors, the program
is staffed by 14 Peer Leaders and Supplemental Instructors (SI)
who don many hats. Some work one-on-one with students who need a
little extra help while others help teach First-Year Experience
Seminar (FYES) classes.
The Peer Instruction Program is relatively new, says Mursell,
noting that the fall of 2007 saw the launch of intensive efforts
to provide enhanced peer services to students, including a
revised student success class for all first-time, full-time
entering students. |
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“FYES is a more
interactive class than a similar course the college used to
require, College 1101,” says Mursell. “As Peer Mentors and Peer
Leaders, we function sort of like Teaching Assistants (TAs) and
tag teach the classes with faculty members. The professors are
there to teach students about time and money management, note
taking, and financial aid procedures among other things,” he
says. “But we’re here to inject fun into the mix.”
Some Peer Leaders also serve as Supplemental Instructors.
“Supplemental Instructors mostly work with students enrolled in
some of the ‘killer’ courses,” he adds, noting that certain
math, science and English courses contain content that many
students find very challenging.
“SIs sit in on these classes, so they know what material is
actually being covered, and then they arrange to have group
tutoring sessions with students enrolled in those classes.
“Last semester I sat in on Dr. (John) Lugthart’s Biology
course,” says Mursell, describing his role as an SI. “Then I
would facilitate a weekly group study section for those students
who wanted to go over the material again later in the week.”
Mursell’s role as an SI for biology courses comes naturally, as
he’s always had an interest in life sciences. This fall, he will
serve as an SI for one of Dr. James Adams’ classes, Physiology
and Anatomy I, one of his favorite courses
“I love the sciences. At one time, I had considered becoming a
nurse, but I have decided to earn an associate degree in
Psychology and then pursue a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice,”
Mursell says.
“I’ve always wanted to be an attorney and will probably end up
becoming a criminal defense attorney because I like a challenge.
I think it will be more rewarding to be a defense attorney than
a prosecutor.”
The courses he’s taken at Dalton State are preparing him well
for that future, he says, noting that he has especially enjoyed
courses taught by Dr. Tony Simones, Assistant Professor of
Political Science and Criminal Justice.
“I’ve really enjoyed all the classes I’ve taken. You get a
really well-rounded education here.”
Mursell has learned to use his time wisely, both in school and
out. As a full-time student, he typically enrolls in more than
16 credit hours per semester and works 28 hours each weekend at
Shaw Industries as a security guard.
But it’s his work as a Peer Mentor that he’s most passionate
about.
“As a Peer Mentor, Emily Jones, Corey McAllister and I help run
the Peer Instruction Program at Dalton State. I’ve spent much of
the past three months working on training for the Peer Leaders
who will serve as tutors next year.”
He and the other Peer Mentors have had the “wonderful
experience” of being presenters at conferences on student
retention, talking about Dalton State’s Peer Instruction
Program.
“We have been making presentations on how to increase the number
of students who come back after their first semester,” Mursell
says.
“Our results have been fantastic so far. Between last fall and
last spring, retention shot up from the same period the year
before – in fact, it almost doubled.
“Helping other students is a great feeling. I love it!”
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